A North East Police Cadet force is celebrating its first full year of community service by supporting a popular local charity event in Newcastle, next week.

The Newcastle Volunteer Police Cadets, which began last May, is celebrating it’s first anniversary by both taking part in, and volunteering at this year’s Children’s Cancer Run, which takes place on Sunday 19th May at Gosforth Park in Newcastle.

The troop, made up of 18, 16 to 18-year-olds from across the city, will run the five-mile cross country course as a team to raise money for the North of England Children’s Cancer Research (NECCR) fund, before swapping their running kit for uniforms and volunteering for the remainder of the event.

The cadets will assist the run’s organisers and volunteers by manning the lost children stand at the racecourse and supporting the event’s security team throughout the day.

Run chairman, Chris Peacock commented, “The support we receive from volunteers is overwhelming and it’s instrumental to the success of the event each year.

“The hard work that organisations such as the Police Cadets put into the day to ensure that things run smoothly, is one of the many very special things about The Children’s Cancer Run, we’re extremely grateful for their help and hope they’ll make it a tradition.”

The Cadet Service was set up last year as a means to reach the city’s younger generation in a more positive way, and those who were selected went through an extensive application process including interviews and police checks following a huge show of interest in the programme.

The Cadets meet every Wednesday night at Heaton Manor School where they under go training in many aspects of police work including first aid, communications, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. They also have the opportunity to visit various departments of the Northumbria Police service such as the air support unit and the dog section.

Having supported over 20 events since the service was set up, such as volunteering at local fire station open days and undertaking community satisfaction surveys, the cadets are no strangers to community support and volunteer work.

Inspector Louise Cass-Williams, the senior officer who oversees the scheme at Newcastle said, “Newcastle cadets regularly enjoy working in the community and are looking forward to helping make sure the event is a success as well as raising money for the NECCR fund by sponsoring members of the group participating in the run.”

The Children’s Cancer Run, which is sponsored by Gregg’s, is a five-mile fundraising fun run for the NECCR fund, which enables vital research into medication and cures for children’s cancer. Even 31 years after it began the race still holds the record for the most amount of money raised for one charity by a single event.

The run will be held at Newcastle Racecourse on Sunday 19th May 2013.  There is a five-mile cross-country run and a one-mile event for under-sevens.  Entry is £12 or £6 for under-sevens. A park and ride facility is available at both the Quorum and Balliol business parks. For more information or to book your places online go to www.childrenscancerrun.co.uk or email .